Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: February 6, 2005
RESPECTING GOD’S LAWS ON FELLOWSHIP
Ben Justice
The Greek word for “fellowship” is koinonia. This Greek term is employed 20 times
in the NT. It is translated “fellowship” 12 times and “communion” 4 times. This
Greek word is also translated “contribution,” “communication,” “to communicate,”
and “distribution” each, one time. Thayer gives these definitions:
1.) Fellowship, association, community, joint participation, intercourse.
2.) The share which one has in anything, participation.
3.) A benefaction jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution.
The basic idea is that of “sharing something in common.” It is “joint cooperation
and participation.” There are many aspects of fellowship, sharing, and participation
taught in the NT.
There is also some other Greek words translated “fellowship” in the NT. They are
practically synonymous with koinonia. There is the word sunkoinoneo. There is no
real discernible difference with this word and koinonia. There is also the word
metochos, which also is synonymous with koinonia.
As we approach this topic of “respecting God’s laws on fellowship,” we must be
reminded that God’s word and only God’s word is the final standard and authority.
Personal desires, popularity, or brotherhood politics are not the standard. We
must let God’s word define fellowship, and we must allow God’s word to set the
boundaries of fellowship.
It is not the intent of this article to explore all of the different nuances and
ramifications of fellowship as set forth in the NT. The burden of this article will be
to set forth God’s limitations on fellowship and respecting those limitations.
Are there any limitations to Christian fellowship? Indeed, there is! Remember
what fellowship is — JOINT-SHARING, PARTICIPATION, COOPERATION. God has
defined who is and is not in fellowship with him — “If we say that we have fellowship
with him (God), and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the
light, as he (God) is in the light, we have fellowship one with another (us and God), and
the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:6-7). Here, we
clearly see God’s law of inclusion and exclusion. Who is excluded from God’s
fellowship? Those who “walk in darkness” (v. 6). Who is included in God’s
fellowship? Those who “walk in the light” (v. 7).
In 2 John 9, we have a parallel statement: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not
in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath
both the Father and the Son.” To not “abide in the doctrine of Christ” is equivalent to
“walking in darkness.” The “doctrine of Christ” is very simply that which Christ
taught. It is his will — the NT (see Matt. 26:28; Heb. 7:22; 8:8-13; 9:15-17). From I
John 1:6-7 and 2 John 9, we can see that God has clearly set the boundaries for
fellowship with him. Of course, we must study the will of Christ — the NT — to
learn what the doctrine of Christ is. We must study the NT to know what
constitutes walking in darkness and walking in the light.
Let’s continue in 2 John. Verses 10-11 state, “If there come any unto you, and bring
not this doctrine (the doctrine of Christ — v. 9), receive him not into your house, neither
bid him God speed: (11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil
deeds.” John set forth some boundaries to the extending of Christian fellowship.
The expression, “receive him not into your house” would refer to providing
assistance in the work they do. “Do not bid him God speed” means that we are not
to support, encourage, or assist in any way whatsoever. This perfectly coincides
with Paul’s statement in Eph. 5:11 — “And have no fellowship (sunkoinoneo) with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove him.” Why is this fellowship
prohibited? John noted that if we receive such a person or bid such a person God
speed, we become partaker with them in their evil deeds. The word “partaker” is
from the Greek term koinonei, which is a form of koinonia. We could say
“fellowshipping” his evil deeds. In other words, he is sharing together with his evil
deeds. “Evil deeds” is synonymous with “abideth not in the doctrine of Christ” and
“bring not this doctrine.” Here is an extremely important point in this regard: ONE
DOES NOT HAVE TO BELIEVE OR TEACH THE SAME THING AS THE FALSE
TEACHER FOR ONE TO BECOME JUST AS GUILTY AS THE FALSE TEACHER! In
other words, one can be guilty by his association and the support, assistance, and
encouragement that he provides to the one not abiding in the doctrine of Christ.
One area that brethren are woefully ignorant on is the fact that fellowship in
inclusive or both giving and receiving. Phil. 4:15 makes this clear: “Now ye
Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from
Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye
only.” The Greek word translated “communicated” is koinonia, which means,
“fellowship” or “joint-cooperation and participation.” In fact, some translations
have “fellowship” instead of the KJV’s rendering of “communicated.” We could say,
“not church had fellowship with me as concerning giving and receiving” (see ASV).
Note how Paul described fellowship (joint cooperation and participation) as “giving
and receiving.” The Philippians had given material help to Paul. Paul received this
material help. Paul defined this giving and receiving between brethren as
“fellowship.”
Now, where the rubber meets the road is whether or not brethren will put into
practice what the Bible teaches on fellowship. Will we respect God’s laws on
fellowship? I sincerely believe that this is one of the most critical areas the Lord’s
church faces today. God’s boundaries on fellowship are being blurred and outright
and totally ignored in too many cases. Let’s bring the matter into practical focus:
Congregation A is known for teaching false doctrine and/or having false teachers
and/or supporting unsound works.
Congregation B teaches and upholds the truth, but gives support to congregation
A. Congregation B is therefore wrong for giving their support to congregation A.
(NOTE: Congregation B, since it fellowships an erring congregation, does not really
teach and uphold the truth. I am using the expression in a limited sense to
denote that they are known for teaching the truth).
Congregation B solicits and receives support from congregation A. Congregation B
is wrong for soliciting and receiving support from congregation A.
Congregation C teaches and upholds the truth, but fellowships and supports
congregation B. Congregation C is therefore wrong for supporting congregation B,
because congregation B supports an unsound congregation — congregation A.
HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE: Congregation A oversees a TV program.
Congregation B also supports the same TV program. However, congregation B is
known for compromise and allowing unscriptural things to take place in its midst.
Congregation A who oversees the TV program is wrong to solicit and accept funds
from congregation B. Congregation C also supports said TV program. Congregation
C is known for teaching the truth and never has been known for teaching false
doctrine. But, congregation C is wrong for engaging in a joint-cooperation effort
with an unsound congregation — namely, congregation B. Congregation C is also
wrong to extend fellowship to Congregation A, because congregation A solicits and
receives support from congregation B. Again, why is this so? Because fellowship is
inclusive of both giving and receiving, per Phil. 4:15. Oh, how brethren need to
realize and understand this!
How can local congregations make sure that they are not supporting error? Church
leaders have no choice but to thoroughly question all those involved in whatever
work is under consideration. Ask the necessary questions to the overseeing
eldership (or congregation) of said work. Then, question all of those who support
the work. Sure, this may take extra time, but it is necessary, or else a
congregation could be guilty of fellowshipping error.
It is high time for brethren to wake up and get their heads out of the sand. When
the barriers of Christian fellowship are broken down and ignored, the
distinctiveness of the Lord’s church is no longer seen — at least in this area. How,
then, is the Lord’s church any different from the religious world when brethren
align themselves with compromisers? When brethren continue to speak on
lectureships that have known false teachers, they have compromised God’s law on
fellowship, for such is joint participation. If it is not, then pray tell what is it?
God’s laws on fellowship are quite clear. The question is, “Will we respect them?”
These matters are of eternal consequence!